Cadillac XTS Forum Discussion, At times like this, I wish I were blind in Current Cadillac Vehicle Discussion; 21 years ago, I was accepted in a vaunted sales position at a Cadillac dealership selling new Cadillacs. The reason ...

At times like this, I wish I were blind

21 years ago, I was accepted in a vaunted sales position at a Cadillac dealership selling new Cadillacs. The reason they hired a 25 year-old recent college grad like myself who had zero experience selling cars, was because Cadillac was trying to lure a new type of customer to their brand, with the then-new 1992 Cadillac STS. At the time, the average age of Cadillac's customers was between 70 and death, so with this new model they hoped to attract a much younger customer base - the post-"yuppies" if you will.

Well within a very short while, the South Florida Cadillac store I worked at, began to put fake convertible tops on both the 1992 Seville as well as the STS, much to the chagrin of the Cadillac zone representative who came by from time-to-time. A self-important ass-hole who undoubtedly rose quite quickly through the ranks, he beseeched me about the incorrectness of putting that top on that particular model, as if I was the one who did it. I placated him best I could to people-please both my employer as well as this idealistic clown, but deep-down I knew he was right. He stated that that look was NOT the future of Cadillac, and I reluctantly (and under my breath) had to agree.

21 years later, some people (dealers) never learn. Though to be fair, they wouldn't be doing it, if there wasn't a customer buying it.
As I learned, way back then...
"THERE'S AN ASS, FOR EVERY SEAT."

Re: At times like this, I wish I were blind

Thanks for posting. Absolutely the wrong look for this car. But if someone wants to part with his money, who am I to pass judgement?
BTW, the fit on that gas filler door leaves a lot to be desired. (wrong side too, but that's another story).

Re: At times like this, I wish I were blind

Unfortunately that will retain the stereotype of old-man/woman car (no offense; I'm getting up in age myself) that Cadillac is trying to distance itself from; you just almost never see this type of atrocity (my opinion here) on the other premium brands.

Re: At times like this, I wish I were blind

Originally Posted by RicktheRealtor

Thanks for posting. Absolutely the wrong look for this car. But if someone wants to part with his money, who am I to pass judgement?
BTW, the fit on that gas filler door leaves a lot to be desired. (wrong side too, but that's another story).

Filler door is on the passenger side where mine is. Did Cadillac make my XTS incorrectly

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Originally Posted by C&C

Unfortunately that will retain the stereotype of old-man/woman car (no offense; I'm getting up in age myself) that Cadillac is trying to distance itself from; you just almost never see this type of atrocity (my opinion here) on the other premium brands.

I am a "young 66" and just returned from a trip to see my elderly parents in Souther New Jersey where there are "senior villages" on every other tract of land available. The atrocity that you speak of is alive and well in these communities; apparently most citizens of the area buy off the lot and the dealers, wanting to take as much money from the "seniors" as possible showcase their automobiles with the beautiful roof complement, putting an additional 8-1500 bucks in their pockets.

Re: At times like this, I wish I were blind

Originally Posted by CAPT Mike

Filler door is on the passenger side where mine is. Did Cadillac make my XTS incorrectly

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I am a "young 66" and just returned from a trip to see my elderly parents in Souther New Jersey where there are "senior villages" on every other tract of land available. The atrocity that you speak of is alive and well in these communities; apparently most citizens of the area buy off the lot and the dealers, wanting to take as much money from the "seniors" as possible showcase their automobiles with the beautiful roof complement, putting an additional 8-1500 bucks in their pockets.

Just a pet peeve of mine. I hate the filler door on the passenger side. I guess I've had one on the driver side for the last 20 years and have gotten used to it being there, and not having to walk around the car. Lazy me.

Re: At times like this, I wish I were blind

Originally Posted by RicktheRealtor

Just a pet peeve of mine. I hate the filler door on the passenger side. I guess I've had one on the driver side for the last 20 years and have gotten used to it being there, and not having to walk around the car. Lazy me.

Only my '04 F-150 and my '04 Corvette have the filler door on the driver's side. All my other vehicles had it on the passenger side. Don't know about other Cadillacs except for my XTS4 with its filler on the passenger side and my '77 Eldorado that had the filler under the license plate in the middle of the rear end under the trunk lid.

Re: At times like this, I wish I were blind

Padded tops were invented to cover up cars coming down the production line that had ripples in the top so they wouldn't have to be scrapped. Even today there is no telling what kind of atrocity you might uncover if you strip one off. The worst I ever saw was to cover up outboard motor propeller tracks on a flood car.

Re: At times like this, I wish I were blind

Be careful what you wish for. It may come true.

Originally Posted by cardio-doc

21 years ago, I was accepted in a vaunted sales position at a Cadillac dealership selling new Cadillacs. The reason they hired a 25 year-old recent college grad like myself who had zero experience selling cars, was because Cadillac was trying to lure a new type of customer to their brand, with the then-new 1992 Cadillac STS. At the time, the average age of Cadillac's customers was between 70 and death, so with this new model they hoped to attract a much younger customer base - the post-"yuppies" if you will.

Well within a very short while, the South Florida Cadillac store I worked at, began to put fake convertible tops on both the 1992 Seville as well as the STS, much to the chagrin of the Cadillac zone representative who came by from time-to-time. A self-important ass-hole who undoubtedly rose quite quickly through the ranks, he beseeched me about the incorrectness of putting that top on that particular model, as if I was the one who did it. I placated him best I could to people-please both my employer as well as this idealistic clown, but deep-down I knew he was right. He stated that that look was NOT the future of Cadillac, and I reluctantly (and under my breath) had to agree.

21 years later, some people (dealers) never learn. Though to be fair, they wouldn't be doing it, if there wasn't a customer buying it.
As I learned, way back then...
"THERE'S AN ASS, FOR EVERY SEAT."